Sectional storage rack and pallets therefor



April 27, 1954 w. D. TowNsoN, .1R

SECTIONAL STORAGE RACK AND PALLETS THEREFOR Filed Deo. 2, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l N. N .QN om .NN Nm.. Um. u.. NN.. w QN NN.. o NN MN QW. MQN\ N bw. a e NM... w m2 .4

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v sEcTIoNAL STORAGE RACK AND PALLETs THEREFOR Filed Deo. 2, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 27, 1954 SECTIONAL STORAGE RACK AND PALLETS THEREFOR William D. Townson, Jr., Murphy, N. C. Application December 2, 1952, Serial No. 323,543

3 Claims. l

The invention relates to new and useful improvenients in a sectional storage rack and pallets therefor.

An object of the invention is to provide a storage rack for pallets loaded with merchandise, which is formed in sections built one on another, and wherein the pallets may be placed in or removed from any one of the sections by the aid of a lift truck.

A further object of the invention is to provide pallets of the above type may be easily disassembled a storage rack and wherein the sections when not in use.

These and other` objects will in .part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disn closed.

In the drawings, which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention:

Figure l is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section on the line I-I of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a view partly in end elevation and partly in section on the line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the base portion of one of the storage rack sections.

Figure 4 is a sectional View on the line ll-fi of .Figur-e 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the upper portions of one of the posts and a supporting cap carried thereby on which caps the base portion and posts of an upper section are sups.

ported, and

Figure 6 is a Vperspective view of one of the pallets used in a section of the storage rack.

The invention has to do with a storage rack made up of sections or units which can be built .'z.

and supported one on another and which can be easily disassembled when not in use. Associated With the portable rack are pallets which can be lifted by the tynes of a lift truck and placed in or removed from a section of the storage rack. These pallets which are placed in the storage section are held from lateral movement and also from endwise movement.

Referring more in detail to the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the supporting base of each unit includes cross bars I and 2 which are parallel with each other and extend from one side of the storage rack to the other. Mounted on these cross bars are side bars 3 and 4l. These side bars are parallel to each other and are secured to the cross bars I and 2 respectively by bolts, one of which is shown at 5 in Figure 4. The bolt has a square head 6 bearing on a washer 'I and the head of the bolt is set in a recess 8 so as not to interfere with the supporting of the section by contact with the cross bars I and 2. The side bars are disposed on the cross bars a slight distance back from the ends thereof and likewise the cross bars are connected to the side bars at a short distance back from the ends thereof.

Mounted on the extended end portion of the cross bar I is a horizontal plate 9 formed integral with a plate I0 which contacts with the outer side face of the side bar 3. This plate I 6 is secured to the side bar by suitable screws indicated at I l. Mounted on this horizontal plate 9 is a cylindrical member l2 which is preferably welded to the plate. In the upper end of this member i2 are diametrically disposed notches I S. The .plate 9 has an opening therethrough of the same diameter as the inner diameter of the cylindrical member l2. There is a recess iii formed in the cross bar I of the same diameter and in alinement with the tubular memil il ber E2. There is a similar tubular member i2 at each corner of the supporting base and likewise a similar horizontal plate 9 and a plate d which is secured to the outer face of the side members 3 and li respectively.

Each cross bar of the base has supporting feet I5 and also a central foot I6 on which the first unit of the storage rack is supported.

A tubular post I7 is inserted in each tubular member I2 and the post has projecting lugs I3 which engage the V-notches I3 and this prevents the post from rotation in the tubular rnernber l2. On the upper end of the post i? is the supporting bracket for the next section or unit of the storage rack. This bracket includes a tubular member i9 which telescopes over` the upper end of the post and there are lugs 2i) on the post I'I which engage V-notches 2l in the tubular member i9. The bracket also includes a cap plate having a horizontal supporting portion 22 with outwardly inclined side walls 23, 23 and an end wall 24.

There are four of these posts with similar brackets at Ythe upper ends thereof. VThe cross bar i has tapered side walls 25 on the lower face thereof and also a tapered end wall 25. The cross bar rests on the plate 22 and is held from endwise movement by the end walls and sidewise movement by the side Walls 23. There is a supporting post at each corner similar to the one just described and a bracket member at the upper end thereof so that the supporting base of an upper section or unit can be placed on these cap plates of the unit just beneath and thus the storage rack may be built up to any are parallel with the convenient height. A section or unit may be lifted as a whole by the tynes of a lift truck and likewise the section or unit may be assembled and then placed on the supporting brackets of another unit section.

Each supporting base has cross bars 21 which cross bars l and 2. They are of much less thickness than the cross bars i and 2 so that the tynes of a lift truck can be inserted through the spaces between the feet l and iii for lifting the base and storage section as a unit.

While any usual form of pallet may be placed in a section of the storage rack it is preferable to provide a pallet which is properly dimensioned and constructed so that When placed in the storage section it Will be held from lateral or endwise movement.

In Figure 6., there is shown the improved pallet which includes side members 23, .iii which are dirnensioned and positioned so that they contact the side members 3 and 4 of the supporting base with a free sliding contact. There is also a cen tral member 29 which extends parallel with side members 28. Floor boards te, t@ are ex tended across from one side member 28 to other side member oi the pallet and is secured to the said side members and also a central ineinber 29. The ends of the floor boards project beyond the side members 28, 28 and overlie and may rest on the side bars 3 and ci the supn porting base. There are two cross bars which are attached to the undersides oi the inem bers of the pallet and are disposed so that when the pallet is placed on a supporting base the side bars will lie close to the inner faces oi the cross bars l and 2. The purpose o these cross bars 3l is to prevent the pallet, when placed on a sin-- porting base, from movement in an endwise direction. The side members 28, 2S oi the palleJr contact the side bars 3 and Il of the base and this will prevent any lateral movement of the paliet. The side members are of sufficient depth so that the tynes of a lift truck may be readily inserted beneath the floor boards of the pallet and the pallet lifted and removed from the section of the storage rack.

In like manner the pallet with a load of inerchanolise indicated diagrammatically at L may be placed on the pallet and then the pallet placed in one of the storage units or sections by the lift truck.

It is obvious that many changes in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set iorth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A sectional storage rack and pallets therefor comprising a plurality of superposed identical sections, each containing a supporting base having spaced parallel side bars and spaced parallel cross bars underlying said side bars adjacent the end thereof and rigidly secured thereto, said cross bars projecting beyond said side bars posts attached to said supporting base at the corners thereof and extending upwardly therefrom on which the supporting base of another section may be supported and said posts being disposed on said projecting end portions of the cross bars and at the outer side of said side bars whereby said side bars are free to slidingly receive a pallet having longitudinal side bars disposed between and freely engaging the side bars of the supportm ing base, and platform members secured to the side bars of the pallet and extending over and sliclingly engaging the side bars oi the supporting base.

2. A sectional storage rack and pallets therefor comprising a plurality of superposed identical sections, each containing a supporting base having spaced parallel side bars and spaced parallel cross bars underlying said side bars adjacent the end thereof and rigidly secured thereto, said cross bars projecting beyond said side bars posts attached to said supporting base at the corners thereof and extending upwardly therefrom on which the supporting base of another section may be supported and said posts being disposed on said projecting end portions of the cross bars and at the outer side of said side bars whereby said side bars are free to slidingly receive a pallet having longitudinal side bars disposed between and freely engaging the side bars of the snpporting base, and platform members secured te the side bars oi the pallet and extending over slidingly engaging the side bars or" the suppe1^ base, which pallet is provided with means holding said pallet from endwise and lat movement While in engagement with the snpporting base.

3. A sectional storage rack comprising rality of superposed identical sections each taining a' supporting base having spaced paral side bars and spaced parallel cross bars lying said side bars adjacent the ends tl and rigidly secured thereto, said cross bars pr jecting beyond said side bars tubular members c disposed on said projecting end portions of cross bars and adjacent the outer faces oi side bars, posts mounted in said tubular nienbers, means for holding the posts from rota" i, `a supporting bracket at the upper end o' post, said supporting bracket including a tv member telescopecl onto the upper end oi post, means for preventing said tabular from turning on the post, each bracket inc ing a horizontal member, side members and an end member mounted on the upper end ci e id tubular member and forming a support i'cr cross members of another supporting side mem ers and said end members ci' bracket serving to prevent the suppo from moving endwise or laterally, sacri being adapted to receive and support a slidingly engaging said side bars.

`References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

